** Help CELEBRATE 23 GREAT YEARS OF CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL REEL SHORTS **

** RATED ONE OF THE TOP 5 SHORTS FESTIVAL IN THE NORTH AMERICA **

Since 2003 ** Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival ** has provided FILMMAKERS from around the World the opportunity to showcase their work to REEL PEOPLE in the Chicagoland area.

They seek to provide a supportive atmosphere with low entry fees and low cost ticket prices.

With unique venues like the state of the art "Chicago Filmmakers Fire House Theater", Classic venues in Chicago’s Belmont Theater District or a basement screening at the World Famous "Mothers" where you can enjoy a local brew while you watch some of the Worlds best films.

We are all Shorts All the Time !!! No Features stealing your spotlight :)

Awards & Prizes

We love to give out awards!! Each screening has an Audience Choice Award and the festival gives out unique festival awards like Best Youth, Best Comedy, Best Drama, BEST OF FEST.... each year it is different based on the films we program.

So go ahead and submit your film!!!

Rules & Terms

GENERAL RULES
RULES & REGULATIONS

Submission Fees
All submissions and payments are through FilmFreeway's secure online submissions system.

Screening Requirements
If your film is selected for exhibition, please be advised that the Festival will require a downloadable MP4 file.

Submission Procedures
* Please submit ONE film per entry with title, type, email and contact name or online screener link
* One digital press kit (If accepted. This is often overlooked. We need posters and stills for promotion and press inquiries)
* Payment (see Payment & Return).

Eligibility Requirements

* World and US Premieres are not required.
* All films and videos in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for Festival presentation.
* Filmmakers must deliver final format (as indicated) for festival screening. No exceptions will be permitted.
* Short Films YOUTH must be works shot, directed, and produced by high school or secondary school (pre-college) students. Adult supervision is limited to advisory capacity.

Festival Awards
All, shorts and music videos are eligible for all Awards. Awards and prizes will be given but are to be determined at a later time.

ALL DECISIONS BY OUR JUDGES ARE FINAL.

To submit a film you must hold or share copyright of the film and its content.
59 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Susie Kim

    This was my first film festival experience and it couldn't have been set in a more supportive, communal experience than at Chicago Intl. REEL Shorts. The audience were warm and encouraging, and they even gave a Q+A time for the filmmakers. I would love to attend again as a new filmmaker!

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Susie, we love you and your film Goldilocks and hope to see your next project!

  • Production Team

    I absolutely love showing films at Chicago International REEL Shorts! It's such a warm, inviting place, run by some of the kindest and coolest humans out there. Great audience response and very filmmaker focused. Highly recommended!

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much! Filmmakers are everything at REEL Shorts!

  • Bella Zoe Martinez

    Thank you so much for having our short film, Once More, Like Rain Man, in your amazing festival. We were truly honored to receive the 2024 Special Jury Award!

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Bella - The pleasure was all ours!

  • Coby Resnick

    It was great to watch our film Noumena premiere live this year. Great Q&A and an incredible selection of short films to watch!

    January 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Coby - Thank You!

  • Sam Slowik

    LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. this festival. It was a great time and we will submit to this REEL Shorts Festival again. Each showing we attended was sold out and full of eyes and movie watchers. The quality of the films selected were well selected and had something for everyone. Overall a very well run festival and we plan to attend and hopefully show films there again.

    January 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Sam - Thank you!